Issues etc....Cancelled

So like most confessional bloggers, I emailed, phoned, emailed and phoned again KFUO. Several Board members were able to respond with quick and courteous emails, others not so quick. In particular Mr. D. Strand, the person who has controlling authority in the matter sent out a email basically saying "sorry your disappointed, hope you like the programming we have planned"........ Again, everyone who emailed him got the same form letter. Here is a copy of my follow up.

Your reply to my initial question is as similarly disappointing to your decision to cancel Issues etc.. I have requested details regarding the decision to cancel. The statements posted on KFUO's website stated that it was a programmatic and business decision. To avoid further miscommunication I will be more specific in my request.1) Please outline the business decision that arrived at the cancellation conclusion. This should be rather simple to provide, and would need no farther detail than spreadsheet conclusions, ie cost vs income statistics or scheduling conflicts. All companies typically have this in a formalized document for change management of business decisions.2) Please describe the delta (difference) between programmatic issues that contributed to cancellation of Issues etc. Did this change in programming come from a change in the program or at a higher organizational level at KFUO. Again this data should be readily at hand also since it is a stated reason for cancellation.
This was sent 9 days ago with no answer.
So, the Executive Director for the Board of Communications for the LCMS, cancels a very popular show on the synods radio station, providing no explanation, no forewarning, no plan for replacement programming, then provides a cryptic " canceled for business and programmatic reasons" excuse, then sends out a changed statement that now says "stewardship requires it" since it was a money looser for them.
So lets summarize the Director's performance in this matter. He is responsible for a significant decision in programing for the synods primary electronic medium. He implements a major change that shows, no primary planning, let alone parallel path planning for possible complications. His public communications in the matter is non-exist ant at first, then poor, then inconsistent.
Folks, there's a reason why this guy is doing charity work.(I know, I know, its a paid position, it just looks like he's doing it for free) There is no way this kind of performance would be tolerated at my place of employment. The only way this would be accepted by senior management is if the guy is used as a hatchet man for a poorly performing department that needed a lot of dead wood cut out. Even then the soulless, bottom line company that I work for would not have treated poorly performing workers this way, let alone withhold severance pay until they sign a non-disclosure statement, knowing that Jeff Schwartz's wife is undergoing medical treatment. That level of manipulation is evil. I've known any number of non-believing secularists that would never have considered anything so personally destructive.
I'm currently at a cross-roads. I've found a church with a pastor and congregation that is fed up with Missouri and seriously considering leaving, the paperwork is already drawn up. This church, though small, (about 300) is a wonder of full bore Lutheran confessionalism. The desire of the pastor and elders to cultivate it into a truly orthodox Lutheran church is a wonderful thing to see. I had been arguing contrary to the need to leave the LCMS, I don't think I will do it anymore. If this congregation, absent discussion from me votes to leave, I'm good with that. Part of me wants to stay and become the festering, confessional thorn in the flesh that Missouri deserves though. I want to become active in synodical politics, get sent to conventions and boards, make people uncomfortable with pointed question like "how is this decision
supported in scripture?", severely reduce synodical hierarchy, and loudly vote no.

Lutheran Schools as Mission.

The new congregation we have joined is one of several that support a local Lutheran LCMS school. I have observed that this congregation seems to be at a point that they no longer wish to be a part of this conglomeration of congregations that support this school. I think that this is a two-fold issue for them. One of the folds is money, the congregation has to obligate for a certain amount based on how many families they have attending. This is a rather small congregation and as such this is a burden at times for them. The second issue I believe is a high level of doctrinal rigor that the school is perceived as not maintaining. Examples include the use of Willowcreek leadership materials for the staff, avoidance of specifically Lutheran Confessional statements and a general softening and mixing of the specific religious claims. I can validate this last one to some extent. When I made the initial call to the office to check on admissions I specifically asked, " Is there an emphasis placed on Lutheran doctrine and tradition?" To which the secretary pleasantly replied " Oh no, that’s never really discussed or study" My disappointment must have been apparent over the phone as she grew quiet and then tried to stammer something out. Clearly, the majority of calls she handles are from non-Lutherans inquiring about the school, as far as I could tell I was the first person who had expressed an interest in the opposite direction. In defense of the school, I am very pleased with the study materials that our kids were first introduced to, including a rather thorough history of Luther and the reformation for the 7th graders. Several obvious Lutheran art objects were also noted in the hallways and a great many of the teachers and staff are from Lutheran backgrounds. Still I feel that the aforementioned congregation probably has some legitimate concerns.
I am more concerned with the congregation having revealed its concerns of heterodoxy in the LCMS to the district. The congregation is signaling that it may be breaking with Missouri and as far as I can tell no one at the District level or higher has attempted to talk to the congregation. Why would that be, can the synod’s leadership no longer defend it’s actions or inactions from the scriptures? If the leadership were certain of its position why wouldn’t it try to correct a potentially wayward congregation? Surely that would be the loving thing to do. It leads me to believe that the district would just as soon not have the trouble that this congregation seems to be causing, based on it’s belief in scripture. An example is one of the other local LCMS congregations having a music service with one of the local charismatic (non-Lutheran charismatic that is) churches. This was brought before the district with the final arbitration being, it wasn’t worship. I’m okay with that, I think we should be finding opportunities to fellowship with other Christians, albeit with a critical eye as to ensuring it not occur in anything that the laity would construe as being Divine Service. I don’t think that level of scrutiny went on though, but hey we got a favorable review in the local newspaper and made it look like we were movers and shakers in the local church scene, how many times can a Missouri church say that, huh?
Enough side tracking, my initial thought though regarding Lutheran schools has been, why do we call them Lutheran if we aren’t’ going to walk the walk? I mean its not like anyone sending there kid there would seriously say, hey I don’t like all this Lutheran reformation talk that goes on! We say were Lutheran, let’s teach it! This line of thinking led me to ponder, why do non Lutherans send there kids to our schools anyway? Is it just because were not the Catholic school down the road. Although for many I do believe this is a big motivator. But many non-Christians also send their kids. I feel they do it because they perceive a better quality environment and scholastics. So in the best of Lutheran traditions I will ask "What does this mean?" It means that many people when given the chance would and do like to have their children associating with all these young Lutheran boys and girls, because they perceive a difference. That difference is the one that believers can present to their neighbors, workers and co-students. Ideally non-believers are attracted to the lives that our children and teachers are presenting as saved, sacramental, scriptural people. Don’t get me wrong, I know first hand that our children and teachers are sinners, and many times display the worst characteristics rather than the righteous ones. The point I’m trying to make I guess is that non-Lutherans may attend our schools and we need to seize that opportunity to proclaim the gospel to them, in the Lutheran tradition. What greater gift can we give these students and their families, than the correct interpretation, the Lutheran interpretation of the gospel? I believe our doctrines to be the clearest understandings regarding the Bible, sacraments, and nature of God. The men and women who established our synod also believed it. Let’s not throw away a golden opportunity that we have to use our schools as witnessing and instructional tools. I think that many times we have started soft-pedaling our doctrine for fear of turning off someone on our school rosters. How can this be, do we believe that our basic doctrine is so terrible that it cannot be presented in full light? If this is the case, how pitiful we have become. We shame the memory of all those 19th century Christians who left home, family and land at great expense to worship as their conscience and understanding of scripture dictated. Let us have but a fraction of that original courage and say, "Yes! We’re Lutheran, and we’d love to teach your children about it!"

Movin Update

Hey All,
Just a quick note. My family and I are moving south. It's part of my job relocation. The good news is that I can now get KFUO on my radio now. How Cool! We are currently looking for a congregation in the area and have the kids enrolled in the local Lutheran School. What a blessing, they even have a Lutheran High School! Thats it for now, my time has been spent driving 5 hours a day for work. The best part is listening to KFUO and then the Albert Moeller (?) program. He's a Southern Baptist and has a very good radion program, although I think it's a copy of Issue's ect. Thats it for now, more when I get settled and dont have to drive so much just to work

Some Summer

Thought I should see if I still know how to type, so far so good.
Since I last checked in I have change jobs, Monday I start working 2 hours south of where I live. We hope to move inot the area, but with school starting soon, we don't plan on pulling the kids out mid year, so I may be driving for a while.
The pastor of our church made his move earlier this year, having recieved a call from a larger congregation closer to the city. I figured he was going because his sermons just prior to his departure were very Lutheran, in regards to Law and Gospel, staying Christ centered and not having some goofy hook in it. This made it pretty clear to me who in the congregation is most responsible for proper teaching, the elders. As soon as the old Pastor had expectations put on him, in the form of what he expected his new congregation had on preaching the Gospel, he preached as a Lutheran pastor would be expected. Our elders never put that expectation out there.
Our interim pastor seems to be a very good pastor. He's a local who just returned from 2 years of missionary work in Isreal. His sermons are studied, meaning he seems to reference the different interpretations of scripture, and each has had Law and Gospel presented well. He also uses the Liturgy pretty extensively, more so than the congregation was use to. On his first Sunday he kinda ad libed a "peace be with you" at the beginning and the congregation, not being use to this corporate style of greeting barely mumbled a "and also with you" I was so glad to see the new pastor smile and say, "lets try that again, peace be with you" to which even the dullest group could pick up on. He was also involved in the Vacation Bible Study, something we were not accustomed to. I hope he's able to stick around. The call process was described to the congregation and I still am not completely sure of who can and can's be called.
Thats all for now, got to get ready for work.

Good Friday, 2007

Yesterday on Maundy Thursday I was able to get away from work early and join my family at church for evening service. Easily one of the better services. Tonight I wasn't able to get out of work in time, partly because one of the other guys in my area wanted off early to go to Good Friday service. That's what Christians do I hope, help carry one another's burdens at work. This year I'll be able to get to 5am service for Easter, with the rest of the family going at 9am. My job has intensive maintenance schedules every spring, so most of my Easters are messed up with 7 day 13 hour schedules for a month or so. Enough whining, with a little luck something else will come along.
On a different note our current pastor is taking a call to a larger more affluent suburban congregation. One of the things we've noticed is the quality of the service since he decided to go. The sermons stay very classically Lutheran. Law, Gospel, Christ crucified for us, just amazing. More traditional service are also offered with the whole service conducted, not cutting out 30% or more like he use to do. I know why the change, he knows he's going to another congregation that has certain expectations of him. That's when it hit me, our elders where not putting the expectations as to conduct of church services on him, meaning that even though it is some of his doing, the elders must bear the brunt of the past conduct.
Some elders have already stated that the next pastor shouldn't be too young or too old, rather someone around 45, since he would be able to connect with everyone, not just the youth or the elderly. What!! Personally I would like to see us take on a younger guy just out of Sem, preferably even with a young family, but I will be glad for any pastor God should choose to send us. I really feel the Elder that made the statement was simply expressing his desire to have a boomer like himself for a pastor, knowing that he would himself have more in common with him. I mainly would like to see a pastor who is true to the message and rigorous in his application of teaching and doctrine. He doesn't have to be someone that I can personally relate to at my age (also 40ish). Enough for now.

Time to catch up

I've been rather negligent in my blogging lately. My blog reading has even been down. What could possibly cause this you may or may not ask. Well first off I recieved my new 2nd edition (I missed the first) Concordia The Lutheran Confessions, edited by McCain, among others and published by Concordia House. I can't say enough about it. If I could only have one book other than a Bible, this would be it. It reads very easy and is packed with extra's, like a suggested year long study guide and a nice selection of Reformation era paintings, including several Cranach's. The pages are finished in an ivory color much like the new Hymnals, very nice touch. Because it reads so easy I am able to discuss it with my children, referring them to sections to read and then expand upon the information through discussion. So, if your a confessional type, and even if you have an original Triglotta signed by Dau, get this readers edition, you will not be disappointed. I know, I know, I've read some scholars bemoan this or that interperative method that was or wasn't used, but I'm laity with poor latin and no german skills, so I think it's the best thing to come along for the likes of me in a long time. Enough gushing, let's move to the next cool thing I've been blessed with.
Growing in Christ Sunday School program, also by Concordia Publishing House. The amount of information and potential in this coarse is staggering. The same course that I am fortunate enough to help teach in the adult coarse is mirrored in the childeren's lesson's, allowing for disscusion of the topic on the drive home from church. It also matches up with the church year as far as sermon's go, so you get a nice in depth study of scripture, starting with pastor's sermon and then moving to Sunday school instructions for all age groups. The folks at CPH have really put alot of work into this, it focuses on the Lutheran doctrine as applied to scripture, with the scripture study in a coherent to doctrine method. This is so much better than the ad hoc classes we put together ourselves that basically took the Bible a book at a time starting with Genesis. If you are fortunate enough to have this coarse at your church let me know what you think. This coarse finds the Law and Gosple application every class, and interpets scripture from the Christ crucified focus. Excellent.
The down side at chuch is the slight waylaying the Church Council did by allowing our Pastoral Assistant (not Assistant Pastor, I know, don't ask) to teach his own class on what he wanted. This draws most of the adults since the location is accesable, but we manage to draw 4 to 8 youngish adults to Growing. I am going to ask our Parish Ed to apply a little common sense to class scheduling.
I just checked CPH's website and they have Concordia going for $20!!!! and it qualifies for free shipping!!! I'm going to have to get one or two more.

Would You Buy Meth From This Man, How 'bout a Massage?

So everyone has heard of Ted Haggard's crushing, burnin up in re-entry, fall from his leadership position with the New Life Church that he founded. At first, while watching the news, I felt very sorry for his wife, she had such a pained expression on her face. Then I thought, what is a 50 year old married man with kids doing buying Meth? How screwed up in the head do you have to be to get to that point? Leave all the massage's from a man in a hotel room out of it for now. Which made me think, where in the hell does someone in his position get the time to go cruisin' for male muscle rubbers. Like Tom Foley, we are always told that "our congressmen are soooo busy, pastors of huge ministries are soooo busy." Not too busy to go for a stroll on the wild side though, even if just looking. Oh and one more random thought, a 49 year old male prostitute?! That sounds like the old Saturday Night Live skit Fred Garvey - Male Prostitute.
I'm listening to the old Issues ect. interview with Haggard again right now, Wilkens just asked Haggard if a christian needs to hear of his sin and depravity on a weekly basis and Ted answers oh no. A Christian doesn't need to hear that every time. There is so much more to talk about in the bible. Haggard also states that as we mature as Christians we will sin less and less, becoming more righteous. This is used as proof of our salvation.
I think we see some of the danger's of not having a clear, Lutheran understanding of our sinfulness. Meaning, if I believe that I will have proof of my salvation in my rightousness and will expect to not sin anymore, my sins will get less and less. If thats what I believe, then yes I have to marginalize the thoughts and actions that I'm doing. After all I was only tempted by Meth, buying it but not taking it, and massages from men in hotel rooms for several years on end isn't like cheating on my wife, so no sin there. What a terrible tyranny this theology must be, to rely on my miserable works for proof.
But blessedly, Christ does not ask me to gather proof of my salvation, rather I am to believe in the promise of Christ, to the cross we must flee and cling to Christ and Christ alone.
I pray that Ted Haggard remembers his discussion with Wilkens and come to a true understanding of sin and santification.